Intro:

Welcome to Episode 25 of the Seven Eighths. In this episode I sat down with Rohan and Rojene for a conversation about their struggles. I met Rohana and Rojene through Gayatri, founder of Accidental Ally - a firm that is pioneering a path to make the web a more accessible place.

Rohan is the Executive Assistant at Accidental Ally. He recently made history twice! He was the first intern with down syndrome to be hired by Five9. He is also the first person with Down syndrome to take the Web Accessibility Certification (CPACC) exam.He dreams of becoming a QE expert with a specialization in Web Accessibility, Localization, and Security testing skills. 

Rojene aspires to be a Digital Marketing professional. She is deeply passionate about social media and marketing operations. Rojene also made history as the first intern with Cerebral Palsy to be hired by Five9. She focussed on Digital Web Marketing and helped the Five9 team make their website accessible and also worked on delivering demand gen nurture campaigns. She recently gave her CPACC exam to certify as a Web Accessibility professional as she dreams of becoming an Inclusive Digital Marketer. She is a fashionista and a self-advocate with Cerebral Palsy.

In this episode, Rohan and Rojene share their journey through struggles and how they are overcoming the various hurdles with determination, perseverance and optimism. It is time to pull up a chair and listen in.

Learn more about Accidental Ally: https://theaccidentalally.com/

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Outro:

And that’s how the cookie crumbles. Rohan and Rojene have been the most inspiring guests I’ve had on this show - hands down. Born with disabilities, they have overcome insurmountable challenges right from birth. Rohan and Rojene have shown us that disabilities did not hinder their potential and they showed us a fine example of resilience and growth. I loved the enthusiasm and optimism for life that they embodied. I loved Rojene’s humility when she said that if she inspires one person, then she considers it a job done. I loved Rohan’s ‘Never Give Up’ attitude when he shared his plan to work harder and succeed at the next attempt of the Web Accessibility certification. Hearing their stories of struggle was heartbreaking but listening to their plans for the future inspired me beyond words.

Thanks to Gayatri - founder of Accidental Ally for bringing Rohan and Rojene to the Seven Eighths and for doing path breaking work in the field of Accessibility Engineering to make the world a more equitable and inclusive place.